The History and Evolution of Metal Fasteners in Boatbuilding
By Bill Calliet, Smith Mountain Lake Chapter Metal fasteners have played a critical role in boatbuilding for centuries, evolving alongside advances in metallurgy, woodworking, and marine engineering. From hand-forged iron nails used in ancient vessels to today’s precision-manufactured stainless steel screws and silicon bronze bolts, the choice of fastener has always been influenced by strength,…